10.11.2011

CREATORS & CREATIONS

A cutie-patootie visitor comes to our house once in a while to play with our daughter.  They're 28 years apart.

This child has a birthday this week, so today, when she came to visit, our daughter gave her some colorful markers and a leather, spiral-bound notebook.   Because this child loves to draw.

Here is a masterpiece from those little fingers.


According to the artist, there is a tiger in the center.  The vertical line right down the middle of the page is a rope that he can climb.  The brown "writing" on the top and bottom says, Happy Birthday, Papa!

Of course.  Now that we know, we see it. 

Still in my robe, I sat down to observe this sweet child at work.


Such concentration.  Check out the left, big toe curled off the carpet.  Very Van Gogh-ian.  Or maybe Da Vinci-an.  I wonder what they were drawing at age three.

At times, this child was quick-draw-McGraw.


A tornado of a fist.

Other times, she was deliberate....


...careful to add details like "sprinkles."

She had a vision.

For forty minutes, she worked, standing at our coffee table in her gymnastic Unitard, trying out every marker.



The orange marker was a particular favorite.


Very timely for Halloween, I say.   I see some pumpkins in there.

It was delightful to observe a young, untarnished mind exploring colors and circles and tigers in complete confidence and freedom.

It reminded me of the time our 8-year old nephew visited many summers ago.  We were playing with clay, and David was having a blast forming giraffes and spiders and dinosaurs.  He asked his mom why God made so many animals.

His mom replied, "Because God loves to create.  He loves to makes all kinds of creatures, great and small."

David thought about this, and after a moment, remarked, "He must have had a lot of fun making me."


HA!  I know he did, buddy. 

Youngsters are the best.  Unguarded and genuine.  It's beautiful to see, and to be reminded of, because the grown-up world is so often self-protective and cynical.

Our little visitor left a beautiful piece of artwork for my daughter.  It's now hanging on the refrigerator.  


She didn't explain this one, so I guess it's open to interpretation.

Maybe another tiger.  Or an unfurled ball of yarn.  Or a '57 Edsel.

What I really see is God's goodness.  The gift of tiny fingers and potential and possibility.  



10.10.2011

Have Your Cake and Eat it Too

The ex-clown was in town this week.   So, I made a cherry pie.   He's a good egg, and cherry pies make him happy.


What I learned is that a lattice crust is time-consuming.  And it doesn't taste any better than a flat crust.   The ex-clown doesn't care either way, and neither do the rest of us, so that's the end of lattice crusts for me.

My favorite kind of pie is Chocolate Cherry Cake.

It's not really pie, but after making a pie, lattice or otherwise, this cake takes the cake, as far as desserts are concerned.   It's just easier than anything.  And our absolute favorite dessert.

So I thought I'd share the recipe.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY CAKE

1 STORE-BOUGHT CHOCOLATE CAKE MIX, THE CHEAPEST KIND
1 CAN CHERRY PIE FILLING
1 t. ALMOND EXTRACT
2 BEATEN EGGS
1/3 C. VEGETABLE OIL

BY HAND, STIR ABOVE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER UNTIL SMOOTH.  POUR INTO 9 x 13 PAN AND BAKE 20-25 MIN. IN 350 OVEN UNTIL TOOTHPICK CLEAN.  DO NOT OVERBAKE.

FROSTING
IN SAUCE PAN, COMBINE:
1 C. SUGAR
5 T. BUTTER (USE REAL BUTTER, NOT MARGARINE.)
1/3 C. MILK

BRING TO BOIL THESE INGREDIENTS AND BOIL, STIRRING CONSTANTLY, FOR 1 MINUTE.  REMOVE FROM HEAT AND STIR IN 1 CUP OF SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS.  STIR UNTIL SMOOTH.  SLATHER OVER CAKE.

TRY NOT TO LEAVE HALF THE FROSTING IN THE PAN, SO YOU CAN EAT IT.  THERE WILL BE A TENDENCY TO DO THIS.  THEN, HALF THE CAKE WILL BE BARE.  IT'S NOT IMPORTANT HOW I KNOW THIS.  FROSTING WILL THICKEN AS IT COOLS ON THE CAKE.

Because this cake is so yummi-lishus, it's half gone before I remember to take a picture of it.  So, here's a picture of half of it.


Actually less than half of it.   I'm telling you, we eat it for breakfast.

It's moist and sweet and simply divine.  I'm sure they have this in heaven.




It's great for a family gathering, or for just two.  It wiill be gone in the same amount of time.

NOTE:  Have a tube of Tide-to-Go nearby.  You'll scarf this cake so fast, you'll drop globs of it on your clothes.